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Pirates place Marte on disabled list, recall Morel

7/18/14: Starling Marte gets hit by a pitch in the head and remains in the game after a trainer visit, as a run scores on the play

By Stephen Pianovich
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MLB.com |

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates placed Starling Marte on the seven-day concussion disabled list Wednesday, five days after Marte took a 93-mph fastball off the helmet. Infielder Brent Morel was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Marte's roster spot.

Marte was beaned by Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino and initially stayed in Friday's contest before eventually being removed for a defensive replacement. The 25-year-old sat out Saturday, pinch-hit on Sunday and started Monday. However, he was out of the lineup and unavailable off the bench Tuesday night against the Dodgers, as complications from the ball to the head apparently worsened.

"It's a very difficult situation to assess," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "The way they feel one day may not be the way they feel two days later because the lingering effects of what can stimulate them, whether it be light, whether it be exertion, whether it be heat, whether it be all those things."

Marte went 0-for-4 in his brief return to the order, and he is hitting .255/.328/.385 with a team-best 21 steals during his third Major League Season.

Meanwhile, Morel is making his second stint with the Bucs this season. The 27-year-old also was on their roster for a short period in May, appearing in one game.

Morel has a .229 average in 195 career Major League games -- all of which were with the White Sox before 2014. In 73 games for Indianapolis this season, Morel hit .246 with three homers and 37 RBIs.

Stephen Pianovich is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.